shelfreflectionofficial's Reviews (844)

I haven’t decided how I feel about this book. I’m not sure what I was expecting but it wasn’t what I read. It was a slow start and took a bit for me to get engrossed in the story. I didn’t realize it was originally in Swedish so there were a lot of names or reference that I didn’t understand. Though, that didn’t take away too much from the story. I enjoyed the slow unraveling of the plot and seeing what clues they would stumble across next. The plot design was perfect and kept me turning pages. However, I don’t think I will continue to read this series. For me, it was a bit too graphic and I didn’t care for a lot of the language. I am all for exposing violence against women and bringing more attention to the atrocities committed in an effort to bring justice and stop the abuse. Especially in light of the news recently, we clearly need more of this. But personally I prefer not to read novels that are too graphic.

Loved this book! No fluff. Solid reflections and teachings on the life and work of Christ. It's always refreshing to find a book where I'm learning new information on topics I thought I already knew. My favorite chapters were the first 3 about the Incarnation, the Baptism, and the Temptation. I loved how the authors clearly laid out Jesus as the second Adam, how he came to do (and succeeded at) what Adam failed to do. There were a lot of things they pulled out that I hadn't thought about before.

Even just the way they laid the book out, the progression from event to event was a simplistic and powerful way to see the story of Jesus, each chapter so rich. I also enjoyed their use of hymns throughout- so much solid theology in those songs that we miss in today's worship. If we don't sing them, we might as well read them! I would highly recommend this book. Here are a couple excerpts that caught my attention:

"Jesus has come to gain victory where there has been defeat, to obey where there has been disobedience, to effect justification where there has been condemnation, to bring freedom where there has been bondage, to bring healing where there has been sickness, wholeness where there has been disintegration, reconciliation where there has been alienation, to bring blessing where there has been curse, and life where there has been death."

"[there is] a biblical pattern in which God accomplishes his most powerful works in darkness: at first creation, at the cross of Calvary, in the garden tomb in the resurrection, and here in the coming of his Son, in the darkness of the womb of the Virgin."

[of his trial] "This is why Jesus remained silent. His was not the silence of guilt and shame as ours is, but the silence of willingness to accept these charges instead of me: 'In my place condemned he stood.'"

This book infuriated me. Well. Because Nazis. I've read several historical fiction books on WWII this year and I'm still surprised how each book finds its own niche. This one tugged at my mother's heart. I obviously have been aware of the atrocities that took place at the hands of the Nazis, but every time I read about it, the absolute disgust and rage resurfaces to think about the evil that inhabited some and damaged others. As a fairly new mother, this book opened my eyes to the incredible sacrifices mothers made at that time. The sacrifice, but also the indescribable grief at the murder of your own child. Or the experience of a Jewish woman who was pregnant. I just can't even imagine what those mothers endured to protect their children, and can't fathom the grief that most likely came after.

This book was well-written and drew me into the story. It may have seemed a bit predictable at times, but I wasn't reading it as a suspense or thriller, but as a gripping account of WWII coming to France, and in that, it was very successful.

If you read this book, your heart might literally break. You might literally punch something. And you might literally make a personal vow to stand against evil and help those who are in its sights. Because we can't correct this past, but we can affect the future.

I'm not always keen on survival stories because I feel like they all seem similar, and who really has hunting and gathering skills anyway, right? At least this one was less about the details on skinning a rabbit and more about the slow and sweet reveal of Ben and his wife's relationship. So I actually enjoyed this story. Until the end. Because it made me cry. But if a book can make me cry, then I have to give it at least a 4 star rating because that is not an easy thing to do. The one thing I didn't really like about the writing was the parts where Ben spoke into his recorder and told the stories of his past. The way the words were written was more like a narration, not how a person would actually relate an event or memory, especially when talking to the person in it. It was fine writing but when I pictured him actually saying the words out loud it didn't necessarily seem logical or realistic. Annnddd... The rest of this review will have spoilers....


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The ending. Seriously?! I was starting to get upset throughout the book thinking these two people were going to fall in love when I just wanted him to get back to his wife and be amazing together. Then the author had to go and write her and their babies dead. They had a miracle of getting off that mountain, why couldn't his wife have a miracle of the twins surviving? It's too sad. Besides, I didn't really get to know Ashley enough to like her. So having her end up with Ben in the end didn't feel right. She seemed a bit shallow and not mature enough to be 34. I felt like Ben deserved better- he deserved his WIFE! It was a good way to keep the book interesting and somewhat suspenseful waiting to see what would happen, but do you really need to break my heart to do that? C'mon man. Why can't true love last forever, and a family of four live happily ever after?

This one is a long one, but I really enjoyed it! It helped put different historical events in order and made connections I hadn't thought of before. I know I learned a lot of it in school, but you don't really try to remember it that much and once you're an adult, you realize more why remembering is so important. So I learned a lot from this book! The goings-on of the White House is always so secretive, so it was fun to read about some of the behind-the-scenes happenings, how certain things function, and about who some of our presidents were. I think it's also a good reminder that, no matter who is in office, there is always violence, unrest, threat of war, and striving to fix the country's problems. The job is not easy, and there is a lot we don't know about that goes on. My thoughts also go out to the families of the Secret Service agents because apparently they can go a majority of the year without seeing them. They sacrifice a lot to protect our leaders.

Lastly, a sidenote: you will read the word 'motorcade' a great many times in this book!

This was a page turner. The author strung the story together well, gradually revealing clues. I found myself going back and forth on who I thought was the killer, which is always a good sign for a thriller. I also enjoyed the setting. I don’t think I’ve read a story based on Australia.

I haven’t decided if I like the ending or not. I think part of me was a little disappointed when we found out the Hadler murders weren’t connected to Ellie's death because I wanted that case solved. So then when Faulk discovered the backpack and we found out what really happened (which wasn’t really in line with how the author had used the italicized passages earlier in the book, but I digress) I was then disappointed that we didn’t get to see how justice was carried out with the Deacons. So I appreciated her tying up the lose ends, but I’m the kind of person who likes more resolution in these type of stories. I’m a justice-seeker.

But overall good, fast-paced mystery that keeps you guessing!

Not my favorite but I’ve liked other Baldacci books. I think I’ll still give book two a chance. This book got a bit bogged down in details that weren’t really necessary. I don’t really need to know what routes everyone takes home or the history of random things. I liked the complexity of the plot but I think I took too long to read it and kept forgetting who everyone was. The series has potential so I’ll continue reading his books.

I wanted to read the whole series before I reviewed the first book. I have done so and now will give my opinion. This series was gifted to me and I had never read this author before. Overall it was an entertaining read that I read pretty fast. I liked it. Didn’t love it. But I think it was more a personal preference thing than a poorly written book. I just wasn’t a big fan of the main character or the love triangle.

Writing style: was interesting-not sure if she has other books like that. I wasn’t sure what I thought of it at first. The first book was slow moving in the beginning and her descriptions and “fluff” was a bit much. Some of it was poetic and meaningful but a lot of it seemed very unnatural. I will say-the second half of the book and the next two in the series was a lot more fast-paced with less dramatic feeling fluff. (See below)

Plot/storyline: intrigued me. I liked the exploration of how not being able to be touched affects a person's psyche. You don’t realize how vital physical touch is to someone's well-being. I think that was a unique facet to this book. I’d say the rest of it was like Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children meets Marvel Agents of Shield meets Divergent. Dystopian world, people with gifts, rebellion against a corrupt government, and a heroine who has to save the world. Oh and a love triangle. Not a huge fan of that part.

Characters: I liked all of the, except Juliette, who is the main character and tells us the story in first person. All of the other characters seemed to have more depth than her and we knew all of her feelings. She was selfish and frankly pretty stupid. I don’t know if I fully formed my opinion of her until later books but I came away from the series liking it, but not because of her.

To give you an idea of the writing style, here’s an excerpt from book 1 & 2 that I really liked:

"The sun is an arrogant thing, always leaving the world behind when it tries of us. The moon is a loyal companion, it never leaves. It’s always there, watching, steadfast, knowing us in our light and dark moments, changing forever just as we do. Every day it's a different version of itself. Sometimes weak and wan, sometimes strong and full of light. The moon understands what it means to be human. Uncertain. Alone. Cratered by imperfections."

"On the darkest days you have to search for a spot of brightness, on the coldest days you have to seek out a spot of warmth, on the bleakest days you have to keep your eyes onward and upward, and on the saddest days you have to leave them open to let them cry. To then let them dry. To give them a chance to wash out the pain in order to see fresh and clear once again."